Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack

Chapter 60: 60th Chapter: Blocked After School

”Really? That doesn’t sound right.”

”Would I lie to you guys?” Jingjing and several others from different classes were gossiping at the stairwell. Jiang An didn’t know why he stopped in his tracks. ”I literally saw her greeting Director Wang and saying things like ’long time no see’.”

”Impossible, right? Just for an exam? Is that necessary? Isn’t that kind of stupid? The cost of giving gifts would be better spent on a tutoring class to actually study.”

”Pfft, if she gets a ranking and is praised by the whole school, wouldn’t that little brat just love the attention?” Jingjing, observing her surroundings, clenched her fists and showed a nonchalant expression, ”Thinking that sucking up to the teacher will help her stand her ground in Class One? In this month’s test, I’ll expose them for what they really are!”

”Jingjing is the best, she’ll definitely leave her in the dust, and Jingjing doesn’t even need to attend tutoring classes.”

Upon hearing the flattery she wanted to hear, Jingjing’s young face lifted in pride, raising her head, ”After school, I’ll treat you all to milk candies, I’ll head back to class first.”

Hearing this, Jiang An hurriedly took two steps back before continuing forward, passing Jingjing without a ripple on his face.

Luo Qianqian seldom spoke in class, except for He Wenyu, her deskmate Jiang An talked to her a bit more because of her young age, her classmates simply thought she was shy and didn’t gossip about it much.

”What’s up?” After sitting down, Jiang An kept a sullen face, Luo Qianqian felt a bit odd and leaned on the desk looking at him.

”It’s nothing. Do you know Director Wang?” Jiang An asked with a gloomy face.

Luo Qianqian nodded, ”I wouldn’t say I know him, we’ve just met.”

Suddenly remembering that Luo Qianqian had an older brother, the legendary Luo Shufan of the previous class, Jiang An felt relieved. It was normal for an outstanding person to have an outstanding sister and continued, ”Do you attend any tutoring classes outside?”

Luo Qianqian straightened up, resting her chin on her hands on the desk. She and her brother, along with Xiao Yu, did study at Old Zhang’s House, but could that be considered a tutoring class? It was more like a daycare, a place full of mischief, yet there were assignments, and they were only charged a modest fee once a month, much cheaper than formal classes, and they even offered full-day care during holidays. Not wanting to cause trouble for Elder Zhang, she shook her head, ”No, but when I play at a grandfather’s house, I just practice some writing.” It wasn’t intentional practice.

”Practice writing?” Jiang An’s eyes widened in disbelief, ”How old are you to start practicing your handwriting?”

Luo Qianqian remained silent; this included her, Xiao Yu with the cooking classes, her brother with the Taekwondo lessons, and her piano classes which Zhou Yinyin had long changed into songwriting and composition classes, turning those once-popular songs into new hits that sold well, transforming memories into money.

Luo Qianqian took a sip of water from her cup to suppress the excitement she felt about RMB, and said calmly, ”My brother says that a little girl should have handwriting that reflects who she is, good handwriting can make a good impression.”

Thinking about Luo Qianqian’s usual composure, and considering the rapidly written papers, tidy English notebooks, and her clutter-free desk, Jiang An knew somewhat about Luo Shufan’s accomplishments, jumping grades from fourth to sixth, actively participating in various competitions, and even obtaining third place in an English speech contest. After a long silence, he sighed, ”Having an impressive brother isn’t entirely a bad thing.”

A bad thing? Luo Qianqian looked slightly bewildered, why would that be bad? Her brother doing well was what she hoped for. Staring at the water cup for a while, she finally said, ”Having an excellent brother is my motivation to move forward. I don’t want to live forever under the wings of my mom and brother.”

”You don’t feel any pressure?” Jiang An asked, ”Your brother is so outstanding, don’t your family members compare you to him?”

”Not really, but there are still people who compare me to my brother.” Luo Qianqian put away her water bottle, revealing a slight smile, ”My brother is my brother, and I am me. If my brother does well, I will too. If my brother succeeds, I can do what I want under his protection. Mom hopes my brother and I are happy, and my brother wants me to be happy, so both mom and my brother are working hard, working and studying hard. If I let these issues make me distant from my brother, wouldn’t that be foolish?”

After class ended, Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu walked home hand in hand, only to be stopped by a stranger at the school gate.

”Are you Luo Qianqian?” Clad in the neat, black-haired, and tidy Experimental Middle School uniform, he didn’t look like a bad student at all.

Luo Qianqian, pulling He Wenyu, retreated back into the school: ”Who are you?”

”Bai Yizhu, we should have met before.” Bai Yizhu carried a backpack on both shoulders, not showing any trace of a thug and looking rather refined and clean.

”...I don’t remember meeting you, could you have mistaken me for someone else?” Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu spoke to Bai Yizhu through the fence inside the school grounds.

”You were beaten up at Experimental High School, I was there too,” Bai Yizhu looked around as passersby stared at him, growing impatient, ”I’m not a bad person, can we talk somewhere else? It’s too crowded here.”

How can you prove you’re a good person? Luo Qianqian and He Wenyu stared at each other, not daring to follow him no matter what since so much had happened.

”Luo Shufan sent me to find you.” Bai Yizhu removed his backpack from his shoulder, rummaged through it, and then pulled out a lollipop, yogurt-flavored, the kind Luo Qianqian usually eats: ”He said that if I gave you a lollipop, you would help.”

Luo Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief, her brother said that she could be bribed with food??? In Luo Qianqian’s eyes, Luo Shufan had always been her protector, how could he have sold her out?

Thinking this, Luo Qianqian spoke up, ”Then first tell me what you need, then I’ll decide.”

”It’s nothing.” Bai Yizhu lowered his head, a flush of red passing over his face, his words almost lost in the air, ”Luo Shufan said you would help, so just tell whether you will or not.”

”Qianqian, wasn’t he one of the people who didn’t help us when we were beaten up by Rainbow Hair’s team?” He Wenyu pulled Luo Qianqian closer and whispered into her ear.

He Wenyu’s words were like a drop of water in a still well, causing ripples: ”Did Rainbow Hair do something to my brother? Where is he?” Luo Qianqian, disregarding her surroundings at the school, ran straight out of the school gate, her small hand grabbing onto Bai Yizhu’s... backpack.

Bai Yizhu slapped his forehead, what folly had he committed, actually coming to find this little brat: ”Those who should be in detention are in detention, those who should go to reform school have gone to reform school, how could they do anything to your brother?” Seeing Luo Qianqian’s anxious face beaded with sweat, he added somewhat reluctantly, ”Luo Shufan is playing soccer at school. The lollipop was from him; how else would I know your name and school?”

”Has my brother’s brain been eaten by a zombie? Isn’t he afraid I’ll get beaten again or you’ll kidnap me?” Luo Qianqian released Bai Yizhu’s backpack, her face full of dissatisfaction.

Bai Yizhu chuckled, lowering his head and whispering into Luo Qianqian’s ear, ”I forgot to mention, the one who kidnapped you was my brother.”